On November 11, 2020, about 1650 central standard time, a light sport Trick Trikes STSS weight-shift control aircraft, N5152E, was involved in an accident near Holden, Missouri. The noncertificated pilot was fatally injured. The aircraft was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.

Witnesses reported the pilot took off from a field and entered a left turn. One witness noted the aircraft “turned sharply” and then “dipped low” before it crashed. The witness added that the “wing appeared to be malfunctioning.” A second witness commented the aircraft impacted a tree line.

The aircraft came to rest in a harvested cornfield and a postimpact fire consumed the fabric sail (wing). Multiple structural components were separated and located with the wreckage at the accident site. They exhibited minor bending consistent with impact forces, and discoloration consistent with the postimpact fire. The engine had separated from the airframe and was located with the wreckage. A postaccident examination did not identify any anomalies consistent with a preimpact failure or malfunction; however, the extent of the impact damage and the postimpact fire limited the scope of the examination.

The previous owner reported the aircraft had been inactive before he sold it to the pilot about two months before the accident. The pilot informed the previous owner that he had experience with powered parachutes and trikes. At the time of the sale, the previous owner informed the pilot that the reduction gearbox needed to be replaced and an annual inspection was required. After taking possession of the aircraft, the pilot informed the previous owner that a new gearbox had been installed.

The pilot’s son-in-law reported that although the pilot had experience flying powered parachutes and trikes, the accident trike was somewhat larger than those he had flown previously. The pilot performed his own maintenance on the aircraft and had recently replaced the gearbox. Flight logs were normally kept with the aircraft and not located after the accident.

A search of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airman certification database revealed that the accident pilot did not hold a pilot certificate or airman medical certificate. Additionally, there was no record that the pilot applied for Basic Med certification. FAA regulations and the aircraft operating limitations required the pilot to hold a pilot certificate. The regulations permitted the use of a valid driver’s license in lieu of a medical certificate.